The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-03-30
THE RAGING MISSOURI.
ponorts of Losses of Lives and Prop
erty From Below.
The steamer Tompkins Wrecked--The Hell
ana Doing Service in Transferring
While the Gorge at Sib1ey is
Solid as Ever and Dyna-
mite Proof.

MAyDAN, March 22.-Last night the
,uoter fell twelve inches and it was hoped
the worst was over. This morning the
mater again began to rise and came up
ooveral inches before it again reached the
stationary point and began to fall off. At
tbis writing (midnight) the water is four
,aqn inches lower than it was twenty-four
hours ago. The ice gorge still hangs in
tact but the water is finding an outlet
around it and it is hoped that gradually
the water will drain off and the ice dam
being left far above, the river level will
dissolve by its own weight assisted by the
melting heat of the sun. AS the water
goes down so that the trestle and embank-
ment of the Northern Pacific bridge can
he seen it is discovered that the timbers
are badly out of shape, while the embank
ment is very badly washed by the rushing
tide. Three miles of telegraph wire and
poles are down. 1t will be some days be-
fore railroad and telegraphic connection
can be restored after the water subsidies.
No lives have been lost on this side of the
river.
ST. PAUL, March 22.-Bismarck special
to the Pioneer Press: The water is now
stationary. The Northern Pacific trans
terred in yaWls to-day and will transfer
by steamer Helena tomorrow. All pas
sengers delayed here are being fed at the
company's expense. Dynamite has been
unsparingly used on the ice gorge at Sib-
ley island. The Heart river is expected
to break and when it does the water will
pour into Mandan in a terrific flood.
ST. PAUL, March 23.-Special to the In
dependent: Among the many west bound
passengers who came here and were forced
to turn back were Delegate Toole and his
niece, Miss Stout. They have gone
around by way of the Union Pacific.
Among those waiting here are Walter
4 Cooper and wife and w. B. Lamme and
wife of Bozeman. They will leave as
soon as possible. j. S. Dickerson of the
Independent will leave for home immedi-
ately via the Union Pacific.
ST. PAUL, March 23.-The Northern
Pacific resumed through business to-day.
'Ielegraphic information was received at
headquarters to-day that the steamer Hell
ena had been secured and that transfers of
all passengers, baggage, express and
H.. Il
and Rock Haven. From Mandan to Rock
Haven is three miles which will be over
come by teams. Large numbers of pas
engers who had been delayed in St. Paul
N account of the flood left this afternoon |
md the road issued instructions to all |
gents that the line is open for travel
gain. The ice gorge in the river remains
olid, but is expected to break soon.
Sr. PAUL, March pa special from
Bowlder, OAK, says: The water has
backed in Swan creek and carried off the
bridge between Lebeau and Scranton and
Eooded the bottom lands eight feet deep.
4 is believed that several Indians have
eeen drowned. The family OF Garrett
Barry barely escaped with their lives and
pst all their cattle and household effects.
The steamer General Tompkins is in the
ARe total wreck. The Missouri is steadi-
rising.
or PAUL, March pa Mandan, Oak,
speclal says the water fell two feet to-day. 7
Y cart river has not yet broken but most Of
'le water has passed under the ice. Some
aamage is anticipated. The damage by :
.pe Hood in Maadan is not over 81 900.
pr PAUL, March 23.-A special from
u says: All attempts to break the
7pley Island gorge by dynamite are una
Faiing. d
p man was seen riding down the river :.
n cake OF ice, frantically calling for
" out it was impossible to assist him.
Welye families near Lenora had most II
ssfloie experience. After being on the 9
~ OF their houses for twenty-four hours
Ailn coat of ice formed on the river and .
" thls they walked to the shore, some =
~ miles. They broke through several q
'sgeS, but managed to make the shore in
aEety.
he Fort Lincoln army officers here are !
~ ofthe opinion that the people oppo-
Y The fort on the low land south of the \,
= pershed in the flood. This belief is h.
ssOmlng prevalent and as the reports m
s4Ie IN from remote districts the story Of .,
saering and loss of life is intensified. j,
BISMARCK, March 24.-The water fell II
g ieet yesterday but is rising again to- Il;
So The water at Washburn is ten feet
SFe the high water mark of 1881, while
~ II Is not quite up to that record. This
We that there is a gorge between here
ST "ashburn, and when the ten feet of w
- comes 1t will make an effort to sur tn
81 any previous records. There is a lis
ssspect for the Heart river to break about CO
laEillle the upper gorge breaks, and If 1t tn